Naomi Torres is included on Richard Rojas‘ short list of All Star Champions of change. When someone makes it onto a list like that, I know I want to talk to her. Naomi is the Superintendent of the Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail. She began her career as in interpreter at Alcatraz and […]
What Parks Can Learn From Disney with Lee Cockerell
As I talk to leaders and managers from parks, Disney came up more than once as a source parks could look to for best practices and new ideas on how to operate a park. I took the hint and brought Disney to the Park Leaders Show. Lee Cockerell is the former Executive Vice President of […]
Becoming a Park Manager
Sarah Milbourne recently became the Park Manager of Rocky Gap State Park in Maryland. Sarah is the product of a Park System which invests in employees. She bursts with enthusiasm for her agency, her park, and her new role as Manager. Sarah discusses the transition of becoming a Park Manager at a park where she […]
Celebrating Seventy Years of Smokey Bear
I have been a lifelong fan of Smokey Bear. This month, August 2014, Smokey Bear celebrates his 70th birthday. Imagine that. Smokey has been with us since the second World War. Seventy years of grandfatherly advice about about wildfires. Seventy years of raising awareness of the impact of fire. Seventy years of standing on the […]
Can You Have Fun and Still Be Professional?
For this episode, we invited a guest to return for the first time. Commander Bill Overby joins us to take questions from park rangers in the field. So far, the most listened to episode has been Don’t Let the Park Define You with Commander Bill Overby. I invited Bill back because you like him, and […]
The Storied Career of a National Park Service Ranger with Tom Betts
Each year, the National Park Service asks Rangers to single out one ranger who epitomizes the Ranger ethic. Believe me, there are so many rangers who could be held up as an example of excellence on the job. So when one ranger is selected to receive the Harry Yount Award for Excellence, you know this […]
Connecting with Youth with Ruby Simonian
When you want to talk about youth involved in parks and recreation, the best place to start is with the Corps Network. I have become fond of the Corps Network and they work they do. Not just the work for parks and conservation, but the work they do in the lives of young people. One […]
Is Parks a Man’s World?
Marty Huseman is the Chief Ranger at Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area. Her career with the National Park Service has taken her all over the country. As she began her career, she was advised to take a job at a park most people have not heard of. She followed that advice and became a Park […]
Can National Parks Remain Relevant?
Ray Murray could be considered an environmental elder. He has been working in the field of parks, recreation, and conservation for decades. Ray is currently the Partnerships Program Chief for the Pacific West Region of the National Park Service. In this interview, Ray shares the biggest changes he has seen during his time with the […]
Park Rangers are Heroes with Amanda Loewe Llanes
I have had the opportunity to talk to many people about why they became a park ranger. Each story is personal and unique, but the answer Amanda Llanes gave really stood out. Amanda was a cadet at Skagit Valley College Parks Law Enforcement Academy when we introduced by Commander Bill Overby. She was attending the […]